Livestock feeder

ABSTRACT

A livestock feeder includes a rotary brush assembly which is supported on a track for movement above a conveyor belt which supplies feed to the brush which sweeps the feed to either side of the bunk depending on the direction of rotation of the motor of the brush assembly. An articulated frame assembly which supports the brush and brush motor has side frames connected for articulation about a longitudinally extending horizontal axis to afford independent relative movement of each side frame to insure constant engagement of the wheels of each side frame with the track notwithstanding irregularities in height of the two rails of the track. Guards over the wheels travel with the brush assembly and prevent the accumulation of feed on the track. The livestock feeder also includes a track assembly in which angle iron rails are supported on laterally extending support members located at the junctures of the rail sections. To align adjacent ends of the rail sections one of the adjacent rail ends includes a plate which projects beyond the end of the rail section and extends into the end of the adjacent rail to engage the inside surfaces and align the rail surfaces in coplanar relationship. The plate is bolted to a support beam to secure the rail in place.

United States Patent Berg, Jr.

[ 1 LIVESTOCK FEEDER [76] Vernon R. Berg, Jr., 413 W. Park St., Marshfield, Wis. 54449 Filed: Dec. 26, 1974 Appl. No.: 536,674

Inventor:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1943 Cornell 119/21 2/1967 Purdy 119/52 B X 7/1970 Caufiman 198/185 6/1972 Scheppele mm B Primary Examiner--Hugh R. Chamblee Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Wheeler, Morsell, House & Fuller [57] ABSTRACT A livestock feeder includes a rotary brush assembly 1451 Oct. 14, 1975 on the direction of rotation of the motor of the brush assembly. An articulated frame assembly which supports the brush and brush motor has side frames connected for articulation about a longitudinally extending horizontal axis to afford independent relative movement of each side frame to insure constant engagement of the wheels of each side frame with the track notwithstanding irregularities in height of the two rails of the track. Guards over the wheels travel with the brush assembly and prevent the accumulation of feed on the track. The livestock feeder also includes a track assembly in which angle iron rails are supported on laterally extending support members located at the junctures of the rail sections. To align adjacent ends of the rail sections one of the adjacent rail ends includes a plate which projects beyond the end of the rail section and extends into the end of the adjacent rail to engage the inside surfaces and align the rail surfaces in coplanar relationship. The plate is bolted to a support beam to secure the rail in place.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 shw 1 of3 3,911,867

UDSQ Patsm: 14,1975 Sheet 2 on 3,911,867

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LIVESTOCK FEEDER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a livestock feeder which includes a rotary brush with a reversible motor for sweeping feed carried by an endless belt to the brush to each side of the bunk. An articulated frame assembly which supports the brush assembly has two spaced side frames with depending legs with each leg rotatably supporting a wheel with a V-shaped groove which rides on an angle iron rail. The wheels on one side are driven to cause forward and rearward movement of the brush assembly on the rails to distribute the feed in the feed bunk and in a longitudinal zone along the track. A pivotal connection between side frames affords independent vertical movement of each side frame about the pivot axis to compensate for irregularities in track height and thus, insure constant engagement of the wheels with the rails to maintain the brush assembly on the track.

Connection between adjacent ends of the angle iron rails is facilitated by an arrangement in which one of the abutting ends of the rails is provided with a projecting plate which is welded to the inside surfaces of the rail and which extends into the open end of the other rail to align the outside surfaces in coplaner relationship. The plates are bolted to horizontal and laterally extending support members which are located at each junction of the track rails.

Track guards having two wall portions at right angles prevent feed from accumulating on the tracks and wheels. The guards are connected to the legs of the side frames and accordingly, move with the brush assembly.

Further objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the brush assembly and a fragmentary and partial sectional view of the track assembly.

FiG. 2 is an end view in fragmentary section of the brush assembly and track assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view in partial section of the track assembly.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view in reduced scale showing the pivotal connection of the side frames of the brush assembly.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of the brush assembly and conveyor belt as well as a feed supply mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 in side elevation.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a brush assembly 10 which includes a frame having two side frames 12 and 14, with each side frame including a horizontally and longitudinally extending beam 15 (FTG. 2) with two depending legs ]l8 and 20. As best shown in FIG. 1, each leg is provided with a wheel 22 carried by a shaft 24 which is rotatably supported in bearings 26 carried by each leg 20.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for connecting the side frames 12, 14 to afford independent relative movement of each side frame about a horizontal longitudinally extending axis to insure constant engagement of the wheels of each side frame with the rails notwithstanding irregularities in height of said rails. In the disclosed construction the means comprises inwardly extending frame members 28, 30 connected to the side frame beams 15 (FIG. 5). A tongue 32 at the end of member 28 extends into a slot 34 at the end of member 30 and'a bolt 36 extends through apertures in the tongue 32 and thewalls defining the slot 34 to provide an articulated connection between the side frames 12, 14. Thus, if there are any irregularities in the height of the rails 40 subsequently described, or other misalignment of the rails, the wheels 22 will follow the track with relative movement of the side frames about the pivotal connection.

The brush assembly also includes a reversible electric motor 50 (FIG. 1) connected to a right angle drive 52 which is connected to the frame member 28 by bracket 54, (FIG. 2). The output shaft 56 of the right angle drive is connected to a brush 58 which has bristles which engage or are in close tolerance with respect to the upper run 60 of a feed delivery belt which carries a continuous supply of feed to the brush 58.

The brush assembly is driven along the rails by drive assembly including a sprocket 62 on the output shaft of a motor 61, a sprocket 64 on one of the shafts 24, and a chain 66. A second wheel 22 is driven by a chain 68, arranged around sprockets and 71. y

The track assembly includes a plurality of spaced support pedestals 72 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. The support pedestals have a foot or base 74 and an upper support beam 76 which extends on both sides of a central post 78 for supporting the rails 40.

In accordance with the invention, the adjacent ends 80, 82 (FIG. 3) of the rails 40 are provided with alignment means to insure that the outer surfaces 84 and 86 are in coplaner relationship. As disclosed the alignment means comprises a plate 88 which is welded or otherwise secured inside the angularly related members which form the rail. The plate 88 has a projecting end 90 which extends into the rail end 84 and engages the inside surfaces 92, 94 of the rail end 84 to properly align the ends of the rails. The rail end 86 is secured to the support member 76 by a bolt which extends through an aperture in the plate 88 and an aperture in the support member 76. The rail end 84 is welded at 102 to the support member 76.

The pedestals 72 also include post portions 104 which carry second cross beams 106 connected to a channel member 108 which supports the upper run 60 of the conveyor belt. Flanges l 12 support the lower run 114 of the belt.

FIG. 6 shows a mechanism for delivering feed to the upper run 60 of the conveyor belt. The mechanism can include an endless chain carrying spaced flights 122 which deliver the feed to a chute 124 which deposits the grain on one end of the feed supply belt. The speed of the brush assembly 10 along the track is considerably less than the speed of the belt 110. Thus, the feed is delivered to the brush at a rate such that feed can be swept from the belt whether or not the brush assembly is traveling in the direction shown by arrow or in a direction shown by arrow 132. Inasmuch as the motor for the brush is reversible, feed can be swept in the direction shown by the arrow 136 as the brush assembly makes a trip from one end of the belt to the other end in the direction of arrow 132. The brush assembly then can be counter-rotated to sweep feed in the direction of arrow 138 as the brush assembly returns in the direction of arrow 130.

To prevent accumulation of the feed on the tracks the legs 20 are provided with track guards 140 with a horizontal portion 142 and a vertical portion 144. The vertical portions 144 are fixed to the legs 20. Thus, the track guards move with the brush assembly to provide continuous protection to the track and wheels.

I claim:

1. In a livestock feeder including a brush assembly and a track having spaced rails for supporting the brush assembly for movement along a conveyor carrying feed and for distribution of feed from the conveyor in a longitudinal zone along the track, the improvement comprising an articulated frame having two side frameseach of said side frames having two longitudinally extending frame members and two depending legs, wheels connected to each of said legs, and supported on said rails, and frame connecting means connecting said longitudinally extending frame members to afford independent relative movement of each side frame about a horizontal longitudinal axis to insure constant engagement of said wheels of each side frame with the track, notwithstanding the irregularities in the height of said tracks.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said frame connecting means comprises inwardly extending frame members connected to said side frames and pivot means connecting the adjacent ends of said laterally extending frame members.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said brush assembly includes a motor supported on one of said side frames.

4. ln a livestock feeder including a brush assembly and a track for supporting the brush assembly for movement and distribution of feed in a longitudinal zone along the track, the improvement comprising a track assembly including track support members having horizontal and laterally extending support beams and said track comprising sections having angularly related outer track surfaces with the juncture of said surfaces forming the medial line of said rails and wherein adjacent ends of said rails are supported on said laterally extending support beams and connecting means for connecting the abutting ends of said rails with said outer surfaces in coplaner relationship, said means including projecting plates fixed to inside surfaces of one of said abutting rails, said connecting plate being adapted to project within the end of said other of the abutting rails to engage said inside surfaces, align said adjacent outer surfaces of said rails in coplaner relationship and fastening means to fasten said plates to said support members.

5. In a livestock feeder including a brush assembly and a track for supporting the brush assembly for movement along a conveyor carrying feed and wherein said brush assembly includes a rotary brush sweeping the feed laterally from the conveyor, the improvement comprising legs on said brush assembly, wheels on said legs supported on said tracks and track guards located over said wheels connected to said legs, and movable with said brush assembly for preventing feed accumulation on said tracks.

6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein said track guards have first and second wall portions with said first wall portion projecting inwardly over said wheels and said second portion projecting downwardly along the sides of said track. 

1. In a livestock feeder including a brush assembly and a track having spaced rails for supporting the brush assembly for movement along a conveyor carrying feed and for distribution of feed from the conveyor in a longitudinal zone along the track, the improvement comprising an articulated frame having two side frames each of said side frames having two longitudinally extending frame members and two depending legs, wheels connected to each of said legs, and supported on said rails, and frame connecting means connecting said longitudinally extending frame members to afford independent relative movement of each side frame about a horizontal longitudinal axis to insure constant engagement of said wheels of each side frame with the track, notwithstanding the irregularities in the height of said tracks.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said frame connecting means comprises inwardly extending frame members connected to said side frames and pivot means connecting the adjacent ends of said laterally extending frame members.
 3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said brush assembly includes a motor supported on one of said side frames.
 4. In a livestock feeder including a brush assembly and a track for supporting the brush assembly for movement and distribution of feed in a longitudinal zone along the track, the improvement comprising a track assembly including track support members having horizontal and laterally extending support beams and said track comprising sections having angularly related outer track surfaces with the juncture of said surfaces forming the medial line of said rails and wherein adjacent ends of said rails are supported on said laterally extending support beams and connecting means for connecting the abutting ends of said rails with said outer surfaces in coplaner relationship, said means including projecting plates fixed to inside surfaces of one of said abutting rails, said connecting plate being adapted to project within the end of said other of the abutting rails to engage said inside surfaces, align said adjacent outer surfaces of said rails in coplaner relationship and fastening means to fasten said plates to said support members.
 5. In a livestock feeder including a brush assembly and a track for supporting the brush assembly for movement along a conveyor carrying feed and wherein said brush assembly includes a rotary brush sweeping the feed laterally from the conveyor, the improvement comprising legs on said brush assembly, wheels on said legs supported on said tracks and track guards located over said wheels connected to said legs, and movable with said brush assembly for preventing feed accumulation on said tracks.
 6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein said track guards have first and second wall portions with said first wall portion projecting inwardly over said wheels and said second portion projecting downwardly along the sides of said track. 